324 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

Either at Berber or at Bir Maliobe firewood sufficient for cooking purposes should be obtained, for none is to be found farther on the route until Ariab is reached.

AVhilst our men are engaged in the tedious task of filling the water-skins, I will give a description of our Bashi-bazouk escort, or rather of one Mahometel-Kurdi, who will serve as a sample of the rest.

These men provide their own weapons, horses or camels, and in return receive certain privileges and pay from the government. Mahomet is a short, fiery little fellow, very dark, and having bright piercing eyes and a long moustache highly waxed, of which he is very proud. He wears a large turban, flowing white trousers, brilliant embroidered waistcoat, and white jacket. Bound his waist he carries an immense leathern girdle, in which is stuck his brace of silver-mounted flint-lock pistols, two daggers, and a long ramrod, one end of the last serving to hold a piece of burning charcoal to light his cigarettes; and as he smokes continually, it is in constant demand. On his right arm another small knife is fastened, and on both arms he has the usual charms. He carries a kurbatch or hippopotamus-hide whip with which to keep the cameldrivers in order, and he frequently gives one or other a sharp cut with it ; but no ill-feeling appears to be entertained towards him, and an application of cofi'ee-grounds heals the wound very quickly. He is a capital fellow, always merry ; and often he